Description: As the first openly female page in a century, 11-year-old Keladry of Mindelan has an uphill battle to fight. In addition to proving herself worthy of being a page, Kel spends her time defending first-year pages from bullies, staying on top of homework, conquering her paralyzing fear of heights, and keeping up with Lord Wyldon's grueling physical training schedule.

Kel's detractors do everything in their power to thwart her progress, from tormenting her friends to sabotaging the Midwinter Festivities, to kidnapping her maid and dog on the day of final examinations.

The tide of resistance begins to turn slightly as Kel proves time and again that she is capable and determined.

Tamora Pierce revisits the imaginary Kingdom of Tortall in this sequel to First Test: Protector of the Small. Fans of Pierce's exotic fantasy sequences will be hard-pressed to put either book down. Kel is a valuable role model: she's proud of being a girl, and she never wavers in her conviction that she can do anything a boy can - and usually do it better.

Thoughts: I'm rather enjoying this subseries! The pacing is pretty good, we're staying put in Tortall with a fairly consistent cast of characters, and actually getting to focus on the path to knighthood! I appreciate Kel's determination and hard work and the way she deals with those around her fairly and compassionately.

I'm continuing to enjoy Kel's adventures! Satisfying fantasy comfort reading with a spunky likable heroine, school setting, underdog victories, and adventure. I am strongly tempted to run out and buy the next two and just read them all at once.

Here, Keladry begins to flower. And I don't mean physically, though that happens too, much to her disgust...part of that is for the hormonal effects that have her noticing men. Kel does develop a crush, though she keeps it silent, and is crushed upon by several of her fellow pages; still, it never becomes the point of the story (thank goodness). Lord Wyldon actually acknowledges her abilities, as she displays them both in training and in real tests. She also makes a lot more friends, of various sorts - from her maid Lalasa to various first-year pages. This book covers the remaining three years of her pagehood, so it's not as detailed as First Test, but it contains a lot of good scenes. Facing down Joren and his friends, with all the pages united behind Kel, is one of my favorites; another that stays with me is the whole final sequence with Lalasa and the examinations. And the various gifts, culminating in Peachblossom - we know who's giving them, of course, but Kel is truly bewildered. It's amusing. There's also a little more development of other characters, and a few changes for Kel - not many, her determination keeps her in a pretty straight line. Like this one even better than First Test. ( )

Wikipedia in English (1)

As the only female page in history to last beyond the first year of formal training to become a knight, 11-year-old Keladry of Mindelan has an uphill battle to fight. In addition to proving herself worthy of being a page, Kel spends her time defending first-year pages from bullies, staying on top of homework, conquering her paralyzing fear of heights, and keeping up with Lord Wyldon's grueling physical training schedule. Kel's detractors do everything in their power to thwart her progress, from tormenting her friends to sabotaging the Midwinter Festivities to kidnapping her maid and dog on the day of final examinations. The tide of resistance begins to turn slightly during the summer between Kel's second and third years, when she leads a team of pages in defensive maneuvers against renegade bandits--coincidentally on the same day that she gets her first period!

Tamora Pierce revisits the imaginary Kingdom of Tortall in this sequel to First Test: Protector of the Small. Fans of Pierce's exotic fantasy sequences will be hard-pressed to put either book down. Kel is a valuable role model: she's proud of being a girl, and she never wavers in her conviction that she can do anything a boy can--and usually do it better. Some rather bloody battles as well as discussions about Kel's developing body make this book appropriate for more mature readers. (Ages 10 to 14) --Emilie Coulter